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User Content => Road Trips => Topic started by: hbelkins on January 07, 2011, 12:00:48 AM

Title: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: hbelkins on January 07, 2011, 12:00:48 AM
Mods: Feel free to move to the "Southeast" board if you deem it necessary...

I'm contemplating a road trip to collect all the remaining counties I need to clinch North Carolina, and thought I'd enlist the roadgeek community's help in a little game.

Here's how it works. First, go to http://www.millenniumhwy.net/NC_counties.jpg to see the counties I have visited and have yet to visit. Then, devise a route that will enable me to visit all the missing counties except Transylvania in the fastest and shortest manner.

Guidelines are:

1.) Point of entry into NC can be either US 421 or I-26/US 23 from Tennessee. From the point of entry there should be a direct route to the first unvisited county.

2.) Routes used must be paved and should be posted numbered routes.

3.) Veering off a direct route in order to briefly enter a county, then returning to the previous route, is permitted.

4.) Other than the maneuver listed in #3 above, the route should have as little backtracking as possible.

5.) Four-lane routes are preferred wherever possible, but they don't have to be interstates. Downtowns of large cities are to be avoided.

5.) Point of exit out of NC can be either I-77 into Virginia, or US 421, US 321, I-26/US 23 or I-40 into Tennessee.

This is being posted on MTR, on the Roadgeek and SERoads Yahoo groups, AA Roads forum and the Millennium Highway Facebook page. Post your route suggestions in the appropriate venue where you read this, and I'd like to see the results by no later than Tuesday, 1/11/11. Again, I'm looking for the fastest, shortest and easiest way to collect all the NC counties I'm missing except for Transylvania, which will be the easiest of all of them to grab since it's just off I-26 in the western part of the state and I could get it in a day trip if I needed to.

Have fun, and I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: froggie on January 07, 2011, 07:08:43 AM
Quote3.) Veering off a direct route in order to briefly enter a county, then returning to the previous route, is permitted. This is called "Froggie-ing" a county by some as a nod to Adam "Froggie" Froehlig.

For the record, I'm not happy with this, and from what I recall, only two people (yourself being one) ever really used the term.  But I know that isn't going to stop some from continuing to use the term.
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: oscar on January 07, 2011, 09:06:42 AM
Quote from: froggie on January 07, 2011, 07:08:43 AM
Quote3.) Veering off a direct route in order to briefly enter a county, then returning to the previous route, is permitted. This is called "Froggie-ing" a county by some as a nod to Adam "Froggie" Froehlig.

For the record, I'm not happy with this, and from what I recall, only two people (yourself being one) ever really used the term.

It's not as if Froggie is the only one who uses that manuever, or even necessarily the biggest or most notorious user.  In Extra Miler Club circles, some call it a "spinback," which is my preference as well.
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: hbelkins on January 07, 2011, 09:10:58 AM
Quote from: froggie on January 07, 2011, 07:08:43 AM
For the record, I'm not happy with this, and from what I recall, only two people (yourself being one) ever really used the term.  But I know that isn't going to stop some from continuing to use the term.


I don't remember who originated that term, but I will cease to use it out of friendship and respect for you.
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: Scott5114 on January 07, 2011, 09:48:48 AM
Oh god, it's like the traveling salesman problem. :P
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: Sykotyk on January 07, 2011, 10:10:59 PM
I've done numerous 'spinbacks' apparently to hit counties. There's a lot of counties that are just a lot easier to hit that way. Especially when, such as this, time is of the essence.

I won't go into a huge issue with exact states routes, but knowing where the four-lanes lie, I'd offer up these counties in order (coordinate which routes exactly)

US421 east through Winston-Salem to where US421 branches south of I-40. That will take Chatham, Lee, and Harnett. NC-87 south toward Fayetteville to get Cumberland. Do a spinback on US401 for Hoke Take I-95 N and spinback for Sampson. Take US264 East for Wilson, Greene and Beaufort. Turn south on US17 to New Bern and do a spinback for Pamlico on NC55.

Continue south on US17 to get Onslow to NC53 to get a spinback of Duplin and enter Pender. Take I-40 south to US74 West. That will take care of New Hanover. US74 W will take you through Columbus and you can do a spinback for Bladen. US74 W for Roberson and Scotland.

That leaves Richmond, Moore, Montgomery, Stahl, Anson and Union in the south central part of the state. US74 is the main thoroughfare. Do a spinback on US74 for Anson (nailing Richmond on the way through). US1 N to Moore and NC 24/27 W through Montgomery and Stahl. Do a spinback to Union before entering the Charlotte metro area. Take the loop, US74 W to US26 and head for home.

This would also put you in a spot to easily nab Transylvania on your way back.

As for road quality. I will vouch for US421, US264, US1, US74 as great roads despite the occasional town. I'm unfamiliar with US17 out east. NC87 is a halfway decent road north of Fayetteville. You should be able to average a pretty decent speed for this trip and finish in well less than two days.

With Google Maps, roughly 980 miles round trip from Johnson City TN. With spinbacks, extra mileage, etc... I would say about 1,050 is what you're looking at. 500 a day at a decent pace. I did 1400 miles this year in two days to nail the rest of Colorado and New Mexico, so 1000, even in NC, should be doable in two days.

Sykotyk
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: hbelkins on January 07, 2011, 11:21:16 PM
Quote from: Sykotyk on January 07, 2011, 10:10:59 PM
With Google Maps, roughly 980 miles round trip from Johnson City TN. With spinbacks, extra mileage, etc... I would say about 1,050 is what you're looking at. 500 a day at a decent pace. I did 1400 miles this year in two days to nail the rest of Colorado and New Mexico, so 1000, even in NC, should be doable in two days.

You must've read my mind. I was contemplating leaving an hour or so early from work on Friday and driving to the Tri-Cities area and spending the night, heading out Saturday morning to start the loop. Johnson City is about three hours from me.
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: Sykotyk on January 07, 2011, 11:59:21 PM
Given you wanted to enter on US421, it seemed the logical starting point. I've driven extensively around North Carolina, but still have yet to have the time to go county hunting yet (although the entire middle of the state save for three counties along the northern border have been nailed. The far west and far east are pretty barren on my map.

If you're unfamiliar with NC, a lot of the four lane roads on a RM atlas are actually what I call 'freeway-lite' roads. Speed of a freeway, but the nuisances of the occasional town, major intersection, etc that slows you down. US 74, US421,etc are like that. US 64 and US 264 are freeways for long stretches in the central/east part of the state.

My other goal, other than driving in every county in America is to drive ever 'blue line' in a RM atlas. I'm still got quite a few cities that I need to take the time to really explore all the oddball areas with freeways/parkways.
Title: Re: Roadgeek Challenge: North Carolina county-collecting roadtrip
Post by: Alps on January 08, 2011, 12:35:32 PM
Quote from: froggie on January 07, 2011, 07:08:43 AM
Quote3.) Veering off a direct route in order to briefly enter a county, then returning to the previous route, is permitted. This is called "Froggie-ing" a county by some as a nod to Adam "Froggie" Froehlig.

For the record, I'm not happy with this, and from what I recall, only two people (yourself being one) ever really used the term.  But I know that isn't going to stop some from continuing to use the term.

A lot more than two, in my experience. Sorry dude, we're all known for something.  Like the expression, "Don't be a Lou!"